章 1: Hacking The System
The young boy stood frozen in the presence of the formidable wolf sprawled on the ground. Dressed in a military uniform, a man of seasoned countenance and authoritative bearing urged him forward, his voice filled with a strange mixture of command and encouragement.
"Come on, lad," the man spoke firmly, pointing a hand towards the fallen creature. "It's time to face your fear and take a bite."
The boy inhaled deeply, attempting to steady his trembling limbs. He had pushed the boundaries of his culinary experiences before, venturing into the realm of strange and peculiar foods, but nothing had prepared him for this moment. The prospect of consuming the flesh of a monster sent a shiver down his spine, the weight of the unknown resting heavily on his young shoulders.
With measured steps, he approached the wolf, his gaze fixed upon its lifeless form. His heart pounded in his chest, causing his breath to catch. He knelt down beside the wolf, his eyes darting between its fearsome face and the man who had guided him to this daunting task.
Taking a deep breath, the boy hesitated for a moment, his mind swirling with doubts and uncertainties. But he knew he had come too far to turn back now. Summoning his courage, he leaned forward, his lips brushing against the coarse fur of the wolf's thigh.
With determination, he exerted a gentle pressure, tearing a piece of the wolf's flesh free. The taste of wild game filled his mouth, mingling with a hint of something primal and otherworldly.
As the boy chewed and swallowed, struggling to suppress the instinctive revulsion that threatened to overwhelm him, the voice of the military man resonated in the stillness. "That's good, lad," he commended, his voice laced with a gruff tenderness. "Don't forget to drink a bit of the blood. It'll provide great nourishment for your body."
Once he had consumed what was necessary, the boy slowly withdrew from the wolf's side, his gaze never leaving its lifeless form. The military man's face softened, a smile playing upon his features.
"You see?" he said, a note of warmth in his voice. "It wasn't as difficult as you imagined."
The boy nodded slowly, his mind abuzz with anticipation. He took a few steps back from the lifeless wolf, his heart racing with a mix of excitement and wonder. Just as the thrill of his accomplishment settled within him, a message materialized on a floating screen before his eyes.
[You have successfully consumed a monster, your talent would be decided based on your experience within the next twenty-four hours.]
A bright smile lit up the boy's face as he read the words, his excitement impossible to contain. Glancing at the soldiers surrounding him, he could tell they understood the reason for his elation. One of them, likely sensing his joy, spoke up.
"Judging from that smile, I can tell you've received the message," the military man remarked, a warm smile playing on his lips.
"Yes, I have," the boy confirmed, his voice brimming with enthusiasm.
The military man waved his hand, signaling the others to begin dismantling the fallen wolf. They worked with practiced efficiency, their hands skilled in the art of survival and resourcefulness.
Amidst the flurry of activity, the man turned his gaze back to the boy, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.
"How long until your talent is decided?" he inquired, his tone filled with genuine interest.
"The message said it would take twenty-four hours," the boy replied, his voice tinged with a mix of hope and uncertainty.
"Twenty-four hours? That's quite unusual," the military man mused, gripping a knife as he carefully cut out one of the wolf's fangs. "Nevertheless, I hope it bestows upon you something truly valuable."
As the military man carefully extracted the wolf's fang, the boy gaze remained fixed on him. He knew that someday, he too would have to perform such tasks. The weight of responsibility bore down on his young shoulders.
The boy name was Eren and the world he lived in was invaded by monsters centuries ago. The initial onslaught had plunged the world into chaos, necessitating a united effort from governments across the globe to combat the encroaching horrors.
Reservists from all corners of the world were summoned to confront this dire threat. While the weaker monsters could be dispatched with conventional weaponry, the more formidable adversaries remained unfazed by bullets and machines.
The world's economy spiraled into rapid decline, plunging humanity further into despair. It wasn't until a year after the first appearance of these creatures that an astonishing revelation surfaced—a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness. It was discovered that consuming the flesh of these monsters awakened extraordinary abilities within humans. Over time, these abilities could evolve, granting humanity the power to combat their nemeses.
In light of this newfound potential, governments across the globe began referring to those blessed with these special abilities as the "Awakened." They became the beacon of hope for humanity.
The shattered economy and the ongoing invasion had reshaped the dreams of the younger generation. Once aspiring to become doctors, lawyers, engineers, or astronauts, children now yearned to become powerful Awakened individuals who could slay monsters and bask in fame.
Eren belonged to this generation of hopefuls. His aspirations, however, went beyond the desire for fame. His ultimate goal was to uncover the truth behind his parents' mysterious disappearance a decade ago.
The military had chosen to keep the details of his parents' vanishing veiled in secrecy, leaving Eren with unanswered questions. Yet, this only fueled his determination to uncover the truth and understand what had transpired all those years ago.
Despite the lack of information, the military never ceased to sing praises of Eren's parents, emphasizing their remarkable abilities. This constant reminder instilled in Eren the belief that he too possessed a significant quirk, waiting to be awakened.
While ordinary individuals either had to venture outside the city to slay monsters or pay exorbitant amounts for monster flesh to awaken their powers, Eren had a distinct advantage due to his parents' association with the military. As a result, soldiers were dispatched to provide him with a monster for consumption. The wolf offered to him was classified as a grade one creature, an ideal choice for assisting ordinary individuals in awakening their abilities.
As Eren watched one of the military men carry the skinless wolf on his back, he felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. He knew the next twenty-four hours would determine his fate and unlock his hidden potential.
"Remember, kid, if you ever need anything, let me know. Even if you don't awaken an overpowered quirk, just build your strength little by little, at your own pace," the military man advised, his tone reassuring.
Handing Eren a card, he added, "This is my card. You can call me anytime you want. Be safe, kid."
Eren's eyes widened as he examined the card. The military man was a grade nine Awakened, a formidable individual. He watched as the man walked away, his mind buzzing with the possibilities of what he could become.
"I need to be strong," Eren resolved, his voice calm yet determined.
Returning to his apartment, which had been provided by the military after his parents' disappearance, Eren checked the time and saw that he had twenty-three hours left until his quirk would be revealed. With time to spare, he decided to take a shower, hoping to clear his mind and refresh his body.
Afterward, he sat down to play one of his favorite video games, but something was missing. He needed a snack, something to satisfy his hunger and give him a boost of energy. He rummaged through his cabinets, searching for something suitable.
"Now where is that book." He mumbled, searching through the house.
Eren's voice murmured through the house as he scoured the tables, hunting for that elusive book. It was no ordinary book, but his cherished compendium of game hacks. Within those pages lay the secret to unlocking unparalleled triumph in his favorite games. With a mere press of his gaming pad, victory became as effortless as plucking candy from a baby's hand.
After a brief moment, Eren's eyes fell upon the book resting atop his bed. "Ah, there it is," he mused, realizing he must have absentmindedly left it there before he departed.
As the gaming session commenced, Eren's fingers danced across the controller. He effortlessly manipulated the up and down buttons, swiftly followed by the RB and LB triggers. His gaze alternated between the hack book on the table and the screen before him, a mischievous smile adorning his face throughout.
The curses hurled at him in the game chat went unnoticed, as Eren remained fixated on the hack book and the controller nestled in his grasp. He paid no heed to the venomous words spat his way; instead, his attention remained unwaveringly fixed on the tangible tools that granted him an unfair advantage.
As the game drew to a close, the curses grew exponentially. Gamers vented their frustrations, pounding their controllers and hurling verbal venom at Eren, who reclined comfortably in his chair, a wide grin etched upon his countenance.
"Hacks truly make it more enjoyable," he softly muttered.
Just as the words slipped from Eren's lips, a shimmering screen materialized before his eyes, suspended in mid-air. His initial excitement quickly dissolved into puzzlement, for the message displayed on the screen differed starkly from what he had anticipated.
[Cheat code activated… Cheat code activated… Cheat code activated…]
[Cheat code activated! System hacked!]
[Power awakening in 5, 4, 3, 2,1…]
At the same time his body suddenly felt weak. Eren's vision was starting to fade and with that, his eyes shut closed.